Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Ken Martin is reportedly ready to quit his role as party chief, citing DNC Vice Chairman David Hogg’s effort to primary some Democrats in Congress, according to Politico.
Martin expressed frustration with the anti-Second Amendment activist, who became prominent after the February 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, during a May 15 Zoom meeting, Politico reported Sunday. The DNC is slated to vote on whether to hold new elections for the leadership positions held by Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta due to procedural errors that allegedly made it harder for a woman to be elected.
“I’ll be very honest with you, for the first time in my 100 days on this job … the other night I said to myself for the first time, I don’t know if I wanna do this anymore,” Martin said in the two-minute recording provided to Politico, during which he appeared to choke up.
Hogg and the DNC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The Democratic Party is struggling in the wake of the 2024 presidential election, with moderates and left-wing Democrats clashing over the approach the party should take.
Martin previously led the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party in Minnesota prior to being elected DNC chairman in February.
“I’m trying to get my sea legs underneath of me and actually develop any amount of credibility so I can go out there and raise the money and do the job I need to to put ourselves in a position to win,” Martin told Hogg during the May 15 Zoom meeting. “And again, I don’t think you intended this, but you essentially destroyed any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to. So it’s really frustrating.
Hogg announced plans in April to spend $20 million to primary incumbents who he viewed as lacking the will to fight. The Second Amendment activist drew fire from other Democratic leaders over his primary plans before he agreed to donate $100,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Martin issued Hogg an ultimatum about his effort in May, days before the meeting where he questioned whether he still wanted the top job at the party, according to Politico.
“Party officers have one job: to be fair stewards of a process that invites every Democrat to the table — regardless of personal views or allegiances,” Martin reportedly told Hogg.
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